There are so many words that we grow up with that carry with them the definition attached to them by the world. Words like “love”, “peace”, “joy”, “faith”, etc. all have worldly meanings that are often contradicted by their biblical definition. This Psalm provides the basis for understanding the biblical meaning of the protection of the Lord. Is it the same as what you envisioned when you first read the title of this Psalm?
Q: What are all the examples used to teach something about the nature of God’s protection?
Q: What is the common characteristic of each example?
A: They all provide cover for all the possible situations we might find need for different levels of protection, whether as a shield, wings, or shadow to cover us while on the move, or when we need absolute separation from the world such as fortress and bulwark, or something in between to wait out temporary conditions such as shelter, refuge, and pinions. But ALL of these things must each be sought after and RUN to in order to be used.
Q: What is the implied conditional statement established in v.1 that speaks of our participation in the process?
A: “He who dwells”. We’re choosing where to live, where to establish our home, in this case in Him. It’s implied that we’re not choosing to try and live on our own or away from His protection. It speaks of OUR having to make a choice.
Q: What are the 3 God-qualities in v.3-4 that teach us about the character of God’s protection?
Application: People in need of being rescued or protected have to first want the help and then must cooperate with those from whom they’re receiving help. Otherwise the rescue or protection efforts won’t be successful.
Q: This is describing what it’s like to be inside God’s refuge, safely in His protection. What do all of these activities have in common?
A: They are all the results of sin, the judgments and consequences that come upon those who choose a worldly lifestyle. You might say they’re the ultimate results of someone taking refuge in the world rather than God.
Q: Is dwelling in God’s refuge a guarantee of protection against anything and everything bad?
A: No, there may be physical hardships, test and trials—all of which are designed to toughen us spiritually—but more importantly there is the protection that results from living a life that embraces God’s righteousness while rejecting sin. The consequences of sin will not befall those who cling to the protection of His ways.
Application: Biblical “protection” is living like we should, free of sin and sinful behavior.
Q: How would you summarize these verses as to what they teach about God’s protection?
A: God provides additional resources for protection that we can’t even see.
Q: How do these heavenly resources fit in with the previous passage?
A: They’re both really discussing spiritual warfare, both in the visible realm and the invisible. The war between God and Satan is for our soul, not our life as it subsists on this earth, but rather whether we attain to the second life.
Application: Biblical “protection” is ultimately for our soul, not automatically for this present life.
Q: What changed in this last passage? How is the tone and perspective different?
A: The previous verses spoke in the 3rd person; here it is God personally speaking in the 1st person “I”.
Q: What are the 3 things referring to us which provide a definition for what it means to seek His shelter and protection?
Application: Take a moment and share how these things identify actions we take to seek His shelter.
Q: What is His personal response to those who seek His protection?
Q: How do these actions fit in with the discussion of v.5-10 above?
A: They’re much more focused on winning the spiritual battle than the physical.
Application: It is much more about winning the spiritual battle than the physical.
If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
― Matthew 5:29-30